Hidden Gems: Bonita Springs' The Stage provides great entertainment

The crowd got down during Alter Eagles performance at The Stage in Bonita Springs in 2011. Nick Shirghio/ Banner Correspondent

Sure the Eagles may have not been music from my era, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t grow up listening to the classic rock band.

Come on, who doesn’t like and sing along to those classics, such as “Hotel California,” “Heartache Tonight” and “Take it Easy.”

So when I heard that the Alter Eagles, an Eagles tribute band of Tampa, would be preforming at The Stage in Bonita Springs, I ventured “life in the fast lane” and headed for a night of dinner, live entertainment and dancing.

Tucked away in the Ace Sunshine Plaza on the 9100 block of Bonita Beach Road east of U.S. 41, The Stage offers a variety of live entertainment, selection of dining options that are rich in flavor and ambiance.

The Stage recently underwent renovations after being open for five years. Renovations began in July 2013, and were finally completed at the end of last year.

Now, the performing stage sits at a corner close to the entrance, adjacent to an upside down piano and other music instruments hang from a high ceiling.

“It’s a bargain,” said Tom Long, a seasonal Bonita Springs resident of Michigan, who had attended a performance of the same tribute band last year and returned for a second time. “There is something for everyone.”

Evening entertainment starts at 7:30 p.m., but you can arrive before. During my recent visit, I arrived to the restaurant at 6 p.m.

I sat at the corner of the bar facing the stage, a perfect spot for me considering that I am short.

Be sure to come with an appetite because you’ll get a three-course dinner with a choice of about six entrees for just $45 or $55, depending on seating location. This cost doesn’t include drinks. On some occasions, the restaurant also offers other dish options with a small surcharge, such as roast duck, lobster tail, lamb shank and filet mignon.

The evening that I attended, the waitress started serving me immediately after sitting down, even though I had made my dinner reservations for a later time. This time, I wore my stilettos.

I started nibbling on a warm roll, while waiting briefly for my fresh salad to arrive. The mix green lettuce was crisp and refreshing. The generous portion of salad included, sliced cucumbers, onion, tomatoes and cheese.

“You’re in for a treat,” Long, 69, told his friends as we enjoyed our salads.

Then came my favorite— the salmon.

The grilled fish was served with a cream lemon dill sauce on the side. I liked that it was served on the side so one could determine how much of the sauce to use. The dishes also included two sides. I asked for a baked potato and vegetables. But don’t worry if you can’t finish your whole meal in one sitting, you can take your leftovers home.

I was almost done eating when the band took the stage around 7:30 p.m. Multicolored lights illuminated the stage where the Alter Eagles, a 6-man band, entertained the crowd of more 150 people for about 2 hours during my recent visit.

Sitting on stage, the Alter Eagles drummer started singing “Life in the Fast Lane.”

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” Long said. “You can turn your back and they sound just like them.”

Bill Troesken, a Bonita Springs seasonal resident, who saw the real Eagles, a 4-man band, in October, said the cover band was pretty good. He pointed to the nice similarity of the Alter Eagles’ base player having long hair, just as the Eagle’s base player, Timothy Schmit.

Within seconds, Troesken started to tap his hand on the bar and sing along.

After about five songs, came the restaurant’s dessert — a peanut butter cheesecake. I ordered coffee to accompany the sweet treat.

To my surprise, the sound of the band was not loud enough for my liking or overwhelming when the band took the stage. Other guests also said that they wished the sound was a tad louder. We learned later that they would turn it up a notch after the restaurant’s dinnertime.

By the third song “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” several guests moseyed to a dim light dance floor. And, Troesken began tapping his finger on his merlot wineglass with the beat of the music.

As the infectious music of the band continued with “Take it Easy,” I couldn’t resist tapping my feet and swaying my shoulders.

Like many, Troesken sang along.

“Their voices are so good,” Long said.

The band took a break after playing for about one hour, serenading the crowd with 13 songs.

Despite encountering some technical difficulties with a speaker after intermission, the band continued to entertain the crowd, quickly flooding the dance floor.

“They’re timeless. A lot of their songs are still played on the radio,” said Long.

Long and his friends have plans to return to The Stage to catch another tribute show before they return up north.

I left Friday night around 10 p.m., unfortunately without getting to hear “Hotel California.” This only means I need to visit The Stage again. Perhaps, I’ll bring my husband, Francisco so I have a dancing partner.

The Stage is located at 9144 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs. Reservations are recommended a week before the show. And depending on the night, people could enter for the show only with a cover charge.

Do you know of a hidden gem that I should visit? Let me know what your hidden gem is at tmiguel@naplesnews.com.